Educational Architecture Design at the University of Groningen by KAAN Architecten

A Landmark of Innovation and Healthy Learning Environments

In the evolving landscape of educational architecture design, the new Education Centre at the University of Groningen stands as a bold and intelligent response to the demands of modern academic life. Designed by KAAN Architecten, the Anda Kerkhoven Education Centre is a 12,246-square-meter hub located in the heart of the Healthy Ageing Campus, adjacent to the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). This building doesn't just provide space—it promotes well-being, connectivity, and flexibility in how students and faculty engage with education.

A Gateway to Healthy Ageing and Learning

Situated on a key axis linking the city center of Groningen with the northern development of the UMCG campus, the Education Centre reconnects urban fabric with academic facilities. This project serves as a new landmark, replacing a former road and instead weaving public life back into the university's ecosystem. The centre becomes the primary entrance to the Healthy Ageing Campus, reinforcing the university’s identity while inviting students, researchers, and the public into a space designed for interaction and collaboration.

The design integrates green patio gardens and public outdoor spaces that extend into the building itself, merging the concepts of interior and exterior and creating a seamless experience of learning in nature. These patios not only enhance visual connections between spaces but also support environmental goals by inviting daylight and air circulation deep into the structure.

Architecture for Well-being and Social Connection

Central to this educational architecture design is the focus on health and well-being. The building emphasizes comfort through natural light, ventilation, and material selection. From flexible learning environments to a welcoming central foyer, the centre is designed to be used beyond lectures—it’s a place for gathering, studying, and rejuvenating.

The horizontal foyer is transparent and open, acting as a public spine that visually and physically connects the building’s five volumes. Framed by expansive glazing and green courtyards, it creates clarity and orientation for users moving throughout the centre. Seminar halls, lecture spaces, meeting areas, and a food court form an active core, while vertical circulation connects to a learning tower above, where classrooms and labs are distributed.

Elevating Everyday Experience Through Design

The building’s design carefully nudges users toward physical activity and mindfulness. Elevators are programmed to stop only at odd-numbered floors, encouraging stair usage as a subtle contribution to the healthy ageing ethos. This staircase doubles as a social space, designed with ample study zones and visual openness, reinforcing the idea that architecture can influence behavior.

Materiality plays a major role in defining atmosphere. Locally sourced light sandy brick, solid oak doors and frames, exposed concrete walls, and warm wooden finishes in the teaching rooms create an inviting, tactile environment. These materials were selected not only for durability but also for their ability to age gracefully over time, giving the building an enduring presence.

Flexible and Future-Proof Spatial Strategies

Adaptability lies at the heart of this educational architecture design. Lecture halls are designed with platform seating instead of fixed tiers, allowing easy reconfiguration for different teaching methods. The building’s structural grid and technical infrastructure provide further flexibility, ensuring that as educational needs evolve, the building can respond without major interventions.

This design foresight makes the Education Centre more than a static structure—it becomes a living framework for future innovation and collaboration across the university.

A Model for Next-Generation Educational Architecture Design

The Education Centre by KAAN Architecten exemplifies how architectural design can support not just academic goals, but also broader themes of health, connection, and environmental responsibility. By creating a building that is both robust and refined, open and intimate, KAAN has set a new standard for educational architecture in the 21st century.

As a vital new node within the Healthy Ageing Campus, this project illustrates that education spaces can be more than just classrooms—they can be dynamic environments that inspire growth, foster wellness, and strengthen the bond between the university and the city.

All Photographs are works of  Sebastian van Damme, Marcel Ijzerman